In the home

Try sitting down when you remove washing from your washing machine, or have the machine raised so that you don’t have to bend down
Use an ironing board that can be set at a low level so that you can sit to iron. A rail or handle within reach on which to rest hangars can be useful
A steam iron requires less effort than a non-steam iron
When using a mop to clean floors, make sure that you leave the floor to dry thoroughly before walking on it. Don’t fill your cleaning bucket more than half way
Don’t use wax to polish floors as this can make them very slippery
Use felt pads or adhesive rubber strips to protect you against any sharp corners on furniture
Avoid glass furniture and glass doors where possible (or use with extreme caution) in case of falls
Keep cleaning products on all levels of the house to reduce the number of times you have to use the stairs
Secure/tape down any loose rugs or carpets and use non-slip mats
Mark any steps that are not obvious with brightly coloured tape
Secure any loose electrical flexes or cords so that you do not trip on them
An electrician can move wall sockets to waist level to improve access
Rocker switches on lighting and touch sensitive switches are easier to use.

I have always enjoyed being a housewife and making my home attractive. Now people keep telling me to make it safe and I’m afraid it won’t look like a home anymore – and then I’ll lose interest.

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